Former captain Ryan Jones believes the Wales team have been awarded”a enormous lift” before the Rugby World Cup, following 15,000 individuals flocked to see their open training session in Kitakyushu.
Wales arrived at the stadium where they’re training from sailors to some rendition of the Welsh national anthem, and are based in the southern Japanese town, which won’t host any games during the tournament.
Warren Gatland’s team get their tournament also Grand Slam winner Jones says the reception they’ve received will reward the players.
“I have never experienced anything like this in my own career. It’s astonishing and it’s been very emotional,” said Jones, who played for Wales in 2004-2014.
“It has been hosting a party. This afternoon, we got up and we were saying’oh, I hope individuals will develop and it goes well’.
“Then to see the queues and then to see the players’ faces when they came out, it was simply magical.
“It has surpassed all our expectations. As the guys are just one week from our game, and also to get an experience such as this makes it home how amazing an occasion it really is, it’s great.
“It’ll give the players a enormous lift. The fantasy was supposed to turn the city reddish and we’ve done .”
Jones, who helped build links between the Welsh Rugby Union and Kitakyushu, added:”If you look back on things on your career, setting that has been magnificent.
“Seeing the players when they arrived at the welcome party the other night, and watching their faces here, they did not understand it.
“They’ve not seen anything like that and they’ll remember it forever. I understand we’ll be back – and long may it continue.”
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